Retractable door pivot assembly



Aug. 11, 1964 Filed Feb. 28, 1961 FIG.I

H. w. FERGUSON 3,143,760

RETRACTABLE DOOR PIVOT ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HAROLD w. FERGUSON ATTORNQYS 1964 H. w. FERGUSON 3,143,760

RETRACTABLE DOOR PIVOT ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 28, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

FIG 5 m ,a Z4 /6 5% .22 J0" 44 u 47 r L w G I i Q INVENTOR. HAROLDW. FERGUSON ATTORNEYS United States Patent [will 3,143,760 RETRACTABLE DOOR PIVOT ASSEMBLY Harold W. Ferguson, New Britain, Conn, assignor to The Stanley Works, New Britain, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Filed Feb. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 92,210 3 Claims. (Cl. 16176) This invention relates to retractable door pivot assemblies and more particularly to retractable door pivot assemblies particularly adapted to be mounted in the header of a doorway for extension vertically into a socket or bearing within the upper edge of the door.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved retractable pivot assembly that can be rapidly and easily installed within the header of a door frame. The door pivot assembly of this invention has particular utility for installation within a header of the so-called narrow-line type which has a height that is relatively limited, and where it is desired to install the retractable pivot assembly by insertion through one end of the header.

It is another object of this invention to provide a retractable door pivot assembly wherein the frame may be completely enclosed within the header thereby giving the installation an attractive and neat appearance.

It is another object of this invention to provide a retractable pivot that may be initially partially actuated prior to installing the door so as to bias the pivot into the extended operating position whereby the pivot will then move into the operating position when the door is properly aligned with the pivot.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a retractable pivot that is easily operated manually between a retracted and a pivot position without the need for tools, and yet is firmly retained in the selected position.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application which Will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a doorway with a closed door mounted upon pivots of the type to which the present invention is directed;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation view of a door and header provided with an embodiment of a retractable door pivot assembly of this invention, the door header, and pivot assembly being partially cut away and in section;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional elevation view of the retractable door pivot assembly of FIG. 1 prior to installation;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the door pivot actuating lever in the down position;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the retractable door pivot assembly of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a door being mounted in a doorway using a retractable door pivot of this invention.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a conventional door 2 mounted in a doorway 4 wherein the door pivots are located at 5 and 6 and extend into recesses provided in the upper and lower edges 7 and 8 of the door from the floor 9 and the header 12, respectively. In FIG. 2 an embodiment of the retractable door pivot assembly of this invention is shown installed in the header 12. This door pivot assembly comprises a frame 10 which conveniently may be formed as a forging or casting which includes a base 14 and an upstanding portion 24 adjacent one end forming a hollow cylinder in which a pivot plunger 16 is reciprocable. The height of the upstanding portion 24 is substantially equal to the length of the plunger 16 and is the height that determines the maximum height of the retractable pivot assembly. The length of the pivot plunger 16, and therefore, the height of the upstanding portion 24, is determined according to the rigidity and strength required for a specific installation. A bushing 28 is fixed within a cavity in the door 2 for cooperation with the plunger 16 to provide a bearing pivotally supporting the door 2.

The base 14 of the frame 10 has upstanding lugs 30 that pivotally support through a pin 32 a plunger operating link 18 and a link operating lever 22 preferably formed of sheet metal. As shown in the drawings, the lever 22 is generally U-shaped in cross section and is formed with a base portion 23 having side flanges 33 which terminate at the left-hand end as viewed in the drawings in extensions or ears 34. The link 18 is positioned between ears 34 and is normally disposed as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 with its bottom edge 43 engaging the base portion 23 of the lever 22 and with its upper edge 40 engaged by the inwardly extending abutments or detents 38 near the top of the ears 34 whereby the link 18 and lever 22 are efiFectively locked together for operation, i.e., oscillation, as a unit. However, the ears 34' because of their vertical length above the base 23 have transverse resiliency and, consequently, may be manually pried apart such as by means of a screw driver Whereupon the inwardly extending abutments 38 on the cars 34 are disengaged from the upper edge 40 of the link 18, and the link 18 may be oscillated about the pin 32 clockwise, as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, relative to the lever 22. The purpose of this construction will be described more particularly hereinafter.

The link 18 has an extension 41 that extends through a slot 37 in the upstanding cylinder 24 into a cavity 39 located in the pivot plunger 16 just above the midpoint between the ends of the plunger. The extension 41 and plunger cavity 39 cooperate to provide translation of the oscillation of the link 18 into reciprocation of the plunger 16. The link 18 also has an extension 42 with laterally extending supports 44 adjacent thereto forming a seat for one end of the spring 20. The end of spring 20 is telescoped over the extension 42 and abuts the rear edges 46 (see FIG. 5) of the supports 44. The opposite end of the spring 20 is seated against an upstanding lug 47 on the base 14 and positioned by an extension of a bushing 48 secured within an aperture in the lug 47. The spring 20 is sufiiciently compressed to maintain the spring in the installed position and to bias the link 18 as hereinafter amplified.

The retractable pivot assembly frame 10 may be secured within the header 12 by means of screws 50, there being provided a slot 52 on the lower surface 62 of the header 12 of suflicient width and length to allow the lever 22 to swing about the pin 32 through the slot 52 and a circular enlargement 53 at the end of the slot 52 to accommodate the plunger 16. in the alternative, the frame 10 may be mounted flush with the lower face of the header 12 if desired, and covered with a suitable escutcheon or cover plate (not shown) having apertures similar to 52 and 53 for accommodating the lever 22 and plunger 16. The additional threaded screw holes 55 are provided in the base of the frame 10 for tris purpose.

In the conventional operation of the retractable pivot plunger 16, the lever 22 is manually pivoted downwardly to retract the pivot plunger 16 into the cylinder 24. This may be done conveniently and easily by the operator merely by inserting his finger into the slot 52 and engaging the end of the lever. Conversely, the plunger may be returned downwardly to the extended operating position v.9 merely by pushing the handle 22 upwardly into the slot 52. The spring 26 assists the actuation of the plunger 16 either to the retracted position or to the downward operating position. As shown in the drawings, the location of the bushing 48 seating the spring 20 relative to the pivot 32 is such that the spring 20 and the link 18 act as an over center or toggle mechanism, with the spring biasing the plunger 16 to the retracted position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 when the lever 22. is pulled down and likewise biasing the plunger 16 to the pivot position shown in FIG. 2 when the lever 22 is pushed up. The axis of the spring 2% is such that the initial retracting bias on the link 18 is obtained just prior to where the plunger 16 is located in the fully retracted position. Likewise, the initial downward bias on the plunger 16 is obtained with only a slight initial dovmward movement of the plunger 16. Consequently, the door 26 may be positioned underneath the plunger without necessarily aligning the cylinder 24 and the bushing 28 and the lever 22 actuated upwardly to initiate the downward bias by the spring 20 on the plunger 16. This downward bias on the plunger 16 is present even though the plunger merely rides upon the upper edge of the door 26. The lever 22 need not thereafter be actuated during the installation of the door, and it is only necessary to adjust the position of the door until the plunger 16 falls in place within the bushing 28. This eliminates the necessity of actuating the pivot plunger during the adjustment'of the door 2 into proper alignment, thereby reducing the installation difiiculty and making the installation susceptible to a one-man operation; After installation is completed, a screw may be inserted into the threaded hole 54 as a precautionary measure to lock the lever 22 in the up position and prevent retraction of the pivot.

*The upper header 12 is quite often of extruded channel construction having a minimum dimension between the upper and lower surfaces 60 and s2 in which to locate and install the pivot assembly. As heretofore mentioned, the limiting height of the assembly is the length of the plunger 16 and'the housing 26 therefor. It is desirable in many instances to locate the pivot assembly entirely within the cavity between the upper and lower surfaces 60 and 62. This may be facilitated if the pivot assembly can be installed within the header 12 by inserting the pivot assembly in the end of the header 12 and longitudinally positioning it for cooperation by the plunger 16 with an aperture 53 in the lower surface 62, and by the handle 22 with the slot 52.

In order to make it possible to insert the pivot assembly longitudinally within the header 12, the link 18 is first unlocked relative to the lever 22 by spreading the cars 34 outwardly as previously described and then the link 18 is pivoted relative to the lever 22 to the position shown in PEG. 3. Consequently, the plunger 16 is then located in the retracted position with the lever 22 also in the retracted position as shown in FIG. 3 thereby reducing the height of the assembly to the height of plunger 16 and cylinder 24 to enable it to be longitudinally installed within the header 12. As a matter of fact, the assembly may be supplied in the retracted position shown in FIG. 3 since this places the assembly in its most convenient and compact form for storage and shipping. After the pivot assembly frame is inserted in the header in proper alignment with the aperture 53 and the slot 52 and secured in place, the lever handle 22 is merely actuated downwardly about its pivot 32 at which time the flexible ears 34 move upwardly and the abutments 38 automatically re-engage or catch the upper edge 49 of the link 18 thereby restoring the mechanism to the original operating condition.

It can be seen then that the retractable pivot assembly of this invention allows a minimum installation height without requiring any disassembly of the parts and wherein the mechanism is placed in operating condition merely by actuating the lever 22. The pivot assembly also simplifies installation of the door since no tools are required, and the assembly is positive in action, insuring that an effective and positive seating of the pivot will take place. These advantages are obtained with a minimum of structure and a maximum of operational reliability and efficiency.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, vari-' ous modifications and adaptations of the structure above described will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

' l. A retractable door pivot assembly comprising a frame, a pivot plunger mounted on the frame for axial reciprocal movement between a retracted and an extended operating position, a pivot on said frame, a link pivotally mounted on said pivot and connected to the plunger to I reciprocatethe same, an operating lever mounted on said pivot for movement between a first position extending away from the frame and'a retracted position, and a disengageable catch for securing the link to the lever for simultaneous pivoting movement thereof, said catch being engageable when the lever is moved to said first position and the plunger is in retracted position.

- 2. A retractable door pivot assembly comprising a frame, a pivot plunger mounted on the frame for axial reciprocal movement between a retracted and an extended operating position, a pivot on said frame, a link pivotally mounted on said pivot and connectedto the plunger to reciprocate the same, an operating lever mounted on said pivot for movement between a first position extending away from the frame and a retracted position, said lever having a portion engaging one edge of the link and having projecting means engaging the opposite edge of the link whereby the link and lever are connected together for simultaneous movement, said projecting means being disengageable to permit the lever to be moved to retracted position while the link is maintained in position retracting the pivot plunger.

3. The assembly set forth in claim 2 wherein a spring is provided in connection with the link to form a toggle biasing the pivot plunger into retracted and extended operating positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent v v UNITED STATES PATENTS 969,870 

1. A RETRACTABLE DOOR PIVOT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FRAME, A PIVOT PLUNGER MOUNTED ON THE FRAME FOR AXIAL RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN A RETRACTED AND AN EXTENDED OPERATING POSITION, A PIVOT ON SAID FRAME, A LINK PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID PIVOT AND CONNECTED TO THE PLUNGER TO RECIPROCATE THE SAME, AN OPERATING LEVER MOUNTED ON SAID PIVOT FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION EXTENDING AWAY FROM THE FRAME AND A RETRACTED POSITION, AND A DISENGAGEABLE CATCH FOR SECURING THE LINK TO THE LEVER FOR SIMULTANEOUS PIVOTING MOVEMENT THEREOF, SAID CATCH BEING ENGAGEABLE WHEN THE LEVER IS MOVED TO SAID FIRST POSITION AND THE PLUNGER IS IN RETRACTED POSITION. 